Election Day approaching in Bowie

Joshua McKerrow / Capital Gazette

The Community Christian Presbyterian Church in Bowie hosts voting. The District 23A House of Delegates seat pits incumbent Geraldine Valentino-Smith against Republican challenger Kathleen Kositzky Crank. Shabnam Ahmed is a write-in candidate.

Election Day is fast approaching, but people in Bowie already know for the most part who will represent them on the local level — county executive, state’s attorney, county council District 4, state senate District 23 and state house District 23B seats are all uncontested on the ballot.

One local race is still undecided. House of Delegates District 23A pits incumbent Geraldine Valentino-Smith against Republican challenger Kathleen Kositzky Crank. Shabnam Ahmed, a Democratic candidate who lost in the primary by 42 votes, is running a write-in campaign.

Valentino-Smith was elected to the House of Delegates in 2011, and previously served four years on the Bowie City Council. It is Kositzky Crank’s first time running for public office. Ahmed is a former student member of the Prince George’s County Board of Education.

Early voting began Oct. 25, and will end at 8 p.m. Thursday. On Election Day, Nov. 6, polls are open 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

In Prince George’s County 579,523 people have registered to vote, including 71,519 in District 4.

As of Tuesday, 67,151 people have voted early in Prince George’s County. From councilmanic District 4, 10,124 people have voted.

Democratic Rep. Anthony Brown is running for re-election against Republican George McDermott and Libertarian Dave Bishop.

While voters have a number of options for those larger seats, a number of smaller offices were already decided in the primary.

In District 23B, Democratic candidates Marvin Holmes, Jr. and Ron Watson are running unopposed. For state senate, District 23, Douglas Peters is running unopposed. State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks is running unopposed for County Executive. Del. Aisha Braveboy is running for State’s Attorney, upopposed on the ballot, though Bruce Johnson is running as a write-in candidate.

County Councilman Todd Turner is running unopposed for the District 4 seat.

Prince George’s voters will be able to vote for two at-large members of the county council from a choice of three candidates.

Businesswoman Felicia Folarin is running for the seat on the Republican ticket.

Democratic District 9 councilman Mel Franklin of Upper Marlboro is running for an at-large seat. Franklin has served on the council since 2010. In 2017 Franklin pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in a crash that injured two, according to The Washington Post.

The other Democrat on the ballot is Calvin Hawkins of Upper Marlboro, a special advisor to County Executive Rushern Baker and former county executive Wayne Curry. According to the Post, Hawkins was accused of sexual harassment a decade ago, resulting in a nearly $150,000 civil judgement against the county. Hawkins told the Post he disputes some specifics of the accusation but recognizes that his behavior was inappropriate, adding that he has learned from the situation.

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Ethan Kelly, of Bowie, talks about how he got hooked on politics.

Ethan Kelly, of Bowie, talks about how he got hooked on politics.

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Ethan Kelly, of Bowie, talks about how he got hooked on politics.

Ethan Kelly, of Bowie, talks about how he got hooked on politics.

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Investigators are at the scene where an Amtrack worker was struck and killed by a train the morning of April 24 near the Bowie Rail Station, adjacent to Bowie State.

Investigators are at the scene where an Amtrack worker was struck and killed by a train the morning of April 24 near the Bowie Rail Station, adjacent to Bowie State.

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Description of Route 197 beautification efforts

Description of Route 197 beautification efforts

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The well-known Melvin Motors sign is removed from its post in Bowie Wednesday.

The well-known Melvin Motors sign is removed from its post in Bowie Wednesday.

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Balloons were released at the end of an event to honor Richard Collins III, held Monday at Bowie State University.

Balloons were released at the end of an event to honor Richard Collins III, held Monday at Bowie State University.